Symbols of Love: I Ching for Lovers, Friends and Relationships [Hardcover]

Stephen Karcher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002

The I Ching is the oldest and most respected oracle book or divinatory system in the world. In Symbols of Love, author Stephen Karcher has selected parts of the I Ching hexagrams which specifically apply to relationships, and he provides simple instructions on how to consult this ancient oracle and interpret its answers to learn the ways in which you can most successfully interact with friends, family, and partners.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

I Ching is the oldest and most respected oracle book in the world. It originated in ancient China four thousand years ago, compiled by shamans and spirit mediums to combine practical advice with spiritual guidance. In Symbols of Love, scholar Stephen Karcher explains how I Ching hexagrams specifically apply to relationships, enabling readers to learn the ways in which they can more successfully interact with friends, family, and partners. Combining a clear, direct translation of the oracle texts with traditional and modern commentary, the book applies the wisdom of I Ching to the twists and turns of the way we love one another. It will help to orient relationships towards a deeper, more spiritual level, allowing readers to gain a better understanding of their emotions, to know when and how to act, and to appreciate what others may be feeling.

About the Author

Stephen Karcher PhD has worked with divinatory texts for more than 30 years. He was a speaker at the Eranos Foundation and supervised their I Ching Project. He is generally acknowledged as one of the world's leading experts on the psychological and spiritual uses of divination.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 306 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316858463
• ISBN-13: 978-0316858465
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,972,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ideal book of I Ching for guidance with relationship matters., January 27, 2006

By 

Chris Sellick (South Australia,Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Symbols of Love: I Ching for Lovers, Friends and Relationships (Paperback)

As I have recently taken up learning I Ching I found this book a great edition to my new collection.This book is all about guidance in regards to relationships.If you are single,or,in a relationship,married,etc you will find this book a great guide.

This book shows how I Ching can help with relationships/matters of the heart and in detail too.This is a very accurate book.
I'm amazed at the guidance I'm getting from this book.

Each hexagram is covered in great detail.About 4 pages to each one.Thats a good thing.(The author's book "Total I Ching" has 4-6 long pages).

This is the first and only book I found on I Ching that specifically caters to relationships and its a great book.

There are similarities between this book and the author's book,"Total I Ching" but this one focuses on relationships matters but "Total I Ching" covers other matters and both are indepth books.

If you have other books by this author you might like this book too.

I also recommend these books:
1)I Ching:a new interpretation for modern times.By Sam Reifler.
2)Practical guidance to the I Ching.By Kim-Anh Lim.

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding I Ching for Personal Relationships, July 11, 2010

By 

Brahman - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Symbols of Love: I Ching for Lovers, Friends and Relationships (Hardcover)

Karcher has done it again in this relational I Ching. You get the original text and moving lines along with very apt interpretations of the Yi for love and friendship. Karcher also dips into the mythology and shamanism of the I Ching for some very lively and uplifting reading. I can't recommend this too highly.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relationship IChing vs Lovers IChing, same or different?, November 26, 2005

By 

D. V. Gelder "Connective Touch" (vandaag, Arcata CA VS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Symbols of Love: I Ching for Lovers, Friends and Relationships (Hardcover)

The "Lover's I Ching" and "Symbols of Love" both by Stephen Karcher are amazing wonderful clear and revealing books. I especially like finding out when you have a moment that is a focus-type (my word. the review mentions "22 models of relationships") of relationship, a more powerful time.
Stephen Karcher's I Ching translation (the big one) has supplanted other versions I have used in my (since 1967) history of using the I Ching for my life. One thing to notice is he extracts the reality whivhis the positivism out of the time. And he links you to the original Chinese. This helps me to see when one hexagram is using the same concept, the same word, as another hexagram.

I have a question. Are these books the same? What is the difference? I haven't seen the black fuzzy one for years.(Lover's I Ching, Hardcover. PUBLISHERS: it should come in a box. imho)

To add to the editorial review of this one, he has had some people who work with relationships add interesting material to this book (Symbols of Love), to help you think through the issues of the time, pictured in the hexagram and echoed by what you cast.